Also in attendance were two good friends to Buckeye Firearms Association: Tennessean Nikki Goeser, who during the lengthy debate over Restaurant Carry made no less than three trips to Ohio to share her heartfelt story of having her husband murdered in front of her by a stalker in a "no-guns" restaurant, and to call for Ohio legislators to pass reforms to our law so that the same thing couldn't happen here, and a citizen who had shared his personal story as proof of the need for the Restoration of Rights legislation.

"SB17 is critical to Ohio concealed carry license holders, and HB54 is critical to those who have had their Second Amendment rights restored in an Ohio court," observed Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman Jim Irvine. "Ironically, in spite of all the media attention, neither will have any noticeable effect for most of the general public."

It is vitally important that gun owners realize that the changes that were signed into law today will not become effective for 90 days. We have placed a clock on our web site at BuckeyeFirearms.org that will count down to the effective date of September 30, 2011.

Buckeye Firearms Association is proud of our work on these important issues. It was an honor to join Governor Kasich and other legislators who helped pass the bills through the Ohio legislature.

"Ohio law also allows CHL's to carry into a bar, in that there is no distinction between bars and restaurants in Ohio. While this section is by necessity more liberal than many states, Ohio is more strict than most in placing a strict prohibition on consumption by the license holder, something most states do not do."

Ohio is currently the only state that places onerous restrictions on how a license holder may carry their handguns in automobiles. Most of those restrictions will be repealed when SB17 becomes effective.

HB54, sponsored by Reps. Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) and Jarrod Martin (R-Beavercreek), will align Ohio law with federal statutes regarding the restoration of rights to Ohio firearms purchasers. Passage of this bill reauthorizes the court process that existed in Ohio prior to a recent change in how BATFE views Ohio's restoration process as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's Caron decision, and which existed in Ohio since at least 1974.

"Today marks the culmination of more than two years of hard work for grassroots pro-gun rights groups in Ohio," said Irvine. "Both of these bills are long overdue and bring Ohio a step closer to complying with generally accepted practices in the rest of the country."

We thank all the legislators who voted for these two bills, and Governor Kasich for signing them into law. We look forward to beginning new work with our friends in the legislature, and with Governor Kasich, to make further improvements to Ohio's gun laws.

Please call Governor Kasich at 614-466-3555 to thank him for his support.

If your Representative or Senator voted in favor of SB17 and HB54, you should also call them and thank them. These calls are important - please take the time to thank those who have worked so hard to pass this excellent legislation.

"SB17 is critical to Ohio Concealed carry license (CHL) holders, and HB54 is critical to those who have had their Second Amendment rights restored in an Ohio court," BFA Chairman Jim Irvine said. "Ironically, in spite of all the media attention, neither will have any noticeable effect for most of the general public."

The association noted that Ohio joins the large majority of states that allowed license holders to carry weapons in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.

BFA Legislative Chair Ken Hanson said Ohio's law is still stricter than most because it prevents alcohol consumption by the permit holder.

Concern by customers and employees about the combination of firearms and alcohol, however, should be negated due to the new law, said Joe Eaton, the Southwest Ohio regional chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association.

"Everyone will agree that guns and alcohol don't mix, but the fact they don't mix is a nonstarter because the bill does not allow that at all," Eaton said in May.

The new law also brings Ohio in line with other states throughout the country, Eaton said in May.

"There are more than 40 states that have similar laws," said Eaton, a concealed carry permit holder since 2004. "I don't know why Ohio citizens are thought to be any different than other citizens in other states."

"Yesterday was a great day for CCW Permit holders across the state," said Bubp. "As one of the sponsors of the companion legislation (HB 45) to SB 17, it was an honor to attend with representatives from the Buckeye Firearms Association, Ohioans for Concealed Carry and the National Rifle Association," Representative Bubp said.

...In addition to simplifying existing concealed carry laws, Senate Bill 17 will bring Ohio's carry regulations in line with most other states' regulations. This legislation was originally introduced during the previous General Assembly as Senate Bill 239, which received the support of the National Rifle Association, the Buckeye Firearms Association and Ohioans for Concealed Carry.

"SB17 is critical to Ohio Concealed carry license holders, and HB54 is critical to those who have had their Second Amendment rights restored in an Ohio court," Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman Jim Irvine said in a released statement. "Ironically, in spite of all the media attention, neither will have any noticeable effect for most of the general public."

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Buckeye Firearms Association is a grassroots organization dedicated to defending and advancing the right of citizens to own and use firearms for all legal activities, including self-defense, hunting, competition, and recreation. Read more.